Chapter Text
The locker room buzzed with the usual post-flight chatter. Rooster's voice cut through the noise, laced with sarcasm.
"Hey Hangman, you bringing another girl home tonight or just your ego?"
Jake didn't flinch. He slammed his locker shut and tossed Rooster a look that was half-bored, half-amused.
"If I wanted your opinion, Bradshaw, I'd have asked your dad. Oh wait..."
The room erupted in laughter. Payback and Coyote chuckled, while Phoenix shot Jake a knowing glance. She knew something the others didn't.
Jake was tired. Not physically—he was used to the grueling flight routines—but soul-deep. Three months. Three months since he'd kissed his wife goodbye in their driveway at Lemoore Air Station. Three months since he had been able to help Matthew with his math homework. Three months since he'd spun Charlotte in a circle while she shrieked with laughter, or watched Evie curl up on his chest during movie night. And Olivia... God, she’d probably started running by now. He had tried to make it home as much as possible but in last couple months the Navy just hadn’t given him enough time to make the trip.
Worse yet, Abby was pregnant. Again. A mix of joy and panic had surged through him the moment she told him during a midnight phone call. But he couldn’t do this anymore—missing first steps, sonograms, and all the messy, beautiful parts of fatherhood.
He needed out. Not out of the Navy—never that. But out of this assignment.
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Flashback: Senior Year of High School
Jake stood outside the high school gym, watching for his longtime girlfriend. He was going to ask Abby to Homecoming, but the words caught in his throat as he caught sight of her laughing with a friend. She approached, her smile lighting up her face as she tilted her head up for a kiss that Jake gladly pressed to her lips.
"Hey, Jake! You okay?"
He nodded, swallowing his nerves. "Yeah, just... thinking."
Abby tilted her head, concern in her eyes. "About what?"
He took a deep breath. "About us. About the future."
She stepped closer, her presence grounding him. "What do you mean?"
Jake hesitated, then blurted out, "I want to be with you. Always."
Abby's eyes softened, and she reached out to touch his arm. "Jake..."
Before she could say more, a voice interrupted them. "Hey, Seresin! You ready for practice?"
Jake turned to see his friends approaching, but his gaze lingered on Abby. She smiled, understanding.
"Go have fun," she said softly.
He nodded and pressed a quick kiss to her lips, but as he walked away, his heart ached. He knew he wanted more than just homecoming with her.
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Flashback: A Change of Plans
The sun was setting behind the dusty windows of the diner, casting everything in a warm, fading glow. Jake Seresin sat across from Abby, spinning wild plans about a post-graduation road trip, all confidence and charm. She barely touched her milkshake.
When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet. “Jake... I’m pregnant.”
The words hit him like a sudden dive in a jet — stomach dropping, breath catching. His grin faltered. “Wait… what?”
She nodded. “I took three tests. I’m sure.”
For a moment, Jake said nothing. He leaned back, ran a hand through his hair, and stared out the window. “This year was supposed to be ours, Abs. I was going to the Naval Academy. You were gonna go to UT. We had a plan.”
“I know,” she said, her voice steady despite the nerves. “Plans change. I don’t expect you to have it all figured out. I just… I need to know if you’re going to be part of this with me.”
Jake looked at her — really looked — and all the memories rushed in. Her laugh at fifteen. The way she made fun of his bravado, but always believed in him more than he believed in himself.
Then, without a word, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small black box. He opened it slowly, revealing a delicate ring.
“I bought this three months ago, it was supposed to be a promise ring.” he said, voice low. “I’ve known you were the one since we were kids. I was just waiting for the right moment.” He let out a breath, almost a laugh. “Guess this is it.”
Abby’s eyes widened, stunned.
“Marry me,” Jake said. “Come with me to Annapolis. We’ll figure out college near there for you. We’ll figure out everything. Just… don’t do this alone. I want to be there. Always.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded, and Jake slipped the ring onto her finger with hands that were somehow steadier than his heart.
And then, without hesitation, he leaned across the table and kissed her — soft, certain, and full of every promise he couldn’t quite put into words. When they finally pulled apart, she smiled through the tears and so did he.
The future wasn’t what they’d planned — but now it was theirs.
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Flashback: The Wedding
The ceremony was small, just close friends and family. Jake and Abby exchanged vows under a canopy of flowers, promising to love and support each other through whatever came their way.
As they kissed, the crowd cheered, and Jake felt a sense of peace settle over him. He had found his home in Abby and the coming baby.
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Flashback: The Birth of Matthew
The hospital room was filled with the sounds of monitors and nurses moving about. Jake held Abby's hand, his heart pounding in his chest.
"It's time," the doctor said.
Abby nodded, squeezing his hand. "I'm ready."
Jake leaned down, kissing her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Hours later, they welcomed their first child, Matthew, into the world. The joy and exhaustion on their faces were mirrored in the tiny bundle they held.
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Flashback: The Birth of the Twins
Almost nine years later, Jake and Abby found themselves in the hospital again, this time the arrival of twins.
Abby was exhausted and worried but beaming as she held Charlotte, her tiny faces scrunched in sleep. Evie stuck in the NICU for now but fighting.
Jake kissed her lips. "You're incredible."
She smiled, her eyes filled with love. "We did it."
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Flashback: Olivia
The early morning air at the base was crisp, the tarmac still damp from an overnight rain. Families lined the edge of the runway, eyes straining toward the approaching jets. Abby stood just beyond the crowd, cradling a sleeping baby girl against her chest, their three older kids huddled around her legs — fidgeting, excited, and trying to see past the mass of uniforms.
The roar of engines grew louder, and then — finally — the jets touched down, one by one.
Jake was the last to emerge from the hangar, duffel slung over his shoulder, still wearing the exhaustion of months away. He scanned the crowd until his eyes landed on them — on her.
Abby waved, tears already brimming. The older kids broke into a sprint, and Jake dropped his bag just in time to catch them, wrapping them in a tight, clumsy hug. He laughed, overwhelmed, holding them close like he could make up for every missed bedtime and school pickup all at once. Then he looked up. Abby was walking toward him slowly, their newborn still nestled against her, pink hat slipping to one side. Jake’s heart clenched as he stared at the little face he'd only seen in grainy video calls and photos. She was real now — so much smaller than he’d imagined, and somehow more perfect. He straightened, eyes locked on his wife’s.
“She’s really here,” he said, his voice low, rough with emotion.
Abby nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks. “She’s been waiting for you.”
Jake reached out, his hands trembling slightly as Abby gently transferred the baby into his arms. For a moment, all sound seemed to vanish — just him and this tiny new person, warm and squirming against his chest.
“Hi, sweetheart,” he whispered, voice breaking. “I’m your dad.”
The baby stirred, scrunching her nose in sleep. Jake let out a breath that sounded almost like a sob, then kissed her forehead. Three months late, but finally home.
He looked at Abby, eyes shining. “She’s perfect. Just like her mama.”
Abby smiled, tired and glowing. “And worth every day we waited.”
Jake kissed her next — slow and full of relief — before wrapping his free arm around her and pulling the whole family in close. After a minute Abby started to heard the kids to the car “Let’s go home.” Jake watched Abby with their children, his heart swelling with pride. She was the anchor to his wings, the constant in his ever-changing life.
Home had never felt so full.
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Back to the Present
A year and a half ago, they welcomed Olivia into their family. The house was chaotic with four kids, but it was their chaos, their joy.
Jake sat in the locker room, his thoughts racing. He had just learned that the Dagger Squad assignment had been extended to 14 months. He couldn't do it. Not with Abby pregnant again. He had a family. A beautiful, chaotic, loving family. And he wasn't going to let anything come between them. He walked out of the locker room, his resolve firm. He was Hangman, but he was also Jake Seresin, husband and father. And that was the most important role he would ever play.
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